It is alleged that the roads to and from the village were blocked by the attackers in order to kill all civilians attempting to flee. Unarmed civilians, including women and small children, were attacked or burned alive inside their homes. FNI/FRPI combatants used captured Hema civilians to lure civilians from their hiding places, by getting them to shout to them that there was no longer any risk to revealing themselves and emerging from hiding. About 200 people were allegedly killed during and in the aftermath of the attack on the village of Bogoro. It is alleged that civilians were inhumanly treated "in the hands of" FNI/FRPI combatants. Civilians were allegedly arrested and imprisoned by FNI/FRPI combatants who locked them up in a room which was filled with the corpses of men, women and children. During the attack against the village of Bogoro, FNI/FRPI combatants allegedly raped civilians and reduced them to sexual slavery by force, threat of violence or death and/or detention. Civilian women were allegedly abducted from the village of Bogoro after the attack, imprisoned and forced into becoming the "wives" of FNI/FRPI combatants, which also required them to cook for and obey the orders of FNI or FRPI combatants. Combatants allegedly destroyed many houses of "the enemy" and many of them were set on fire. In other cases, the roofs, doors and windows of buildings which remained standing after the attack were also allegedly destroyed. After the attack, FNI/FRPI combatants are alleged to have intentionally pillaged property belonging mainly to the Hema population of the village. Cars were also allegedly stolen to transport the booty.
Main judicial developments Referral to the Court The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 11 April 2002. On 3 March 2004, the government of the DRC referred the situation (all events within the jurisdiction of the Court) on its territory since the entry into force of the Rome Statute on 1 July 2002. After preliminary analysis, the Prosecutor initiated an investigation on 21 June 2004. Apart from Germain Katanga and Mathieu Chui, a third person was transferred to the ICC in relation to the situation: Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. An arrest warrant was issued for a fourth person, Bosco Ntaganda, but it has not yet been executed. Investigations are ongoing in relation to the situation in the DRC. Arrest warrants and surrender to the Court Following his initial investigation into crimes allegedly committed in the district of Ituri since 1 July 2002, the Prosecutor filed an application for the issuance of warrants of arrest for Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui on 22 and 27 June 2007. On 2 July 2007, Pre-Trial Chamber I issued an arrest warrant for Germain Katanga. On 6 July 2007, the Chamber issued an arrest warrant for Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui. On 17 October 2007, Germain Katanga was surrendered by the Congolese authorities and transferred to the seat of the Court in The Hague. He made his first appearance before the Chamber on 22 October 2007.
On 6 February 2008, Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui was arrested, surrendered by the Congolese authorities and transferred to the seat of the Court in The Hague. He made his first appearance before the Chamber on 11 February 2008. On 10 March 2008, Pre-Trial Chamber I issued a decision joining the cases against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui. Legal assistance On 22 February 2008, the Registrar provisionally found Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui indigent subject to verification by the Court of the information found in their respective requests. The Court is bearing the cost of their Defence. Confirmation of charges and committal for trial The confirmation hearing was held from 27 June to 16 July 2008 before Pre-Trial Chamber I. On 26 September 2008, the judges of Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui.